People living in a road being used as a rat run by speeding cars are calling for action to make their street safe.

Neighbours in Somervell Road, in South Harrow, have been collecting signatures for a petition calling on Harrow Borough Council to stop cars speeding.

The road is also near Earlsmead Primary School, and people living on the road say they fear for children’s safety at the start and end of the school day.

There have been reports of cars being damaged by speeding vehicles, including a parked car being hit and ending up on its roof.

Sylvia Collis, who has led the campaign, said: “People are very nervous and very worried about the speed of cars travelling down the road.

“It is being used as a rat run and more and more cars are coming down here at high speed.

“There have been a lot of near misses and cars damaged. There have even been pets killed.

“Something needs to be done to make the road safer and slow the traffic. There is a school very close and there are more and more families moving into the area.

“It is just a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt or even killed.”

Neighbour Jill Allen, who has lived in the road for 53 years, said: “We are all very concerned about the speed of cars.

“It is a residential road and is not meant to have this volume of traffic on it. We are not just worried about our safety by also the safety of the children who live in the road and from the nearby school.”

The campaigners have been backed by Labour's Harrow West MP Gareth Thomas.

He said: “The road is clearly being used as a rat run and it is also clear cars and other vehicles have been travelling above the speed limit, which is very concerning.

“It is also worrying because there is school nearby. I just hope something can be done by Harrow council to reduce the speed of cars and make sure they keep under limit.”

The petition has been handed into Harrow Council and the issues on the road will be discussed at a meeting of the traffic and road safety advisory panel on Wednesday.

The Harrow Times has contacted Harrow Council and is awaiting a reply.